Welcome New Staff

We are excited to announce the newest faculty recruits to the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center! Whether it be in the clinic or in the lab, each of these outstanding clinicians and researchers will add to the richness of the Department in different ways. I am looking forward to welcoming them to Pittsburgh in 2023!

Dr. Sandra Stinnett, MD

Dr. Stinnett is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Division of Laryngology and is also on staff at the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh. She is a fellowship trained laryngologist who completed her specialized training in Neurolaryngology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where she also completed her residency. She has been inducted as an active member of the American Bronco-Esophageal Association. Her areas of expertise include the full spectrum of swallowing disorders as well as the full spectrum of disorders of the voice which range from management of the professional voice, treatment of neurological conditions of the larynx, benign and malignant conditions of the vocal folds, vocal fold paralysis, and endoscopic airway reconstruction.

Dr. Whelan is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at UPMC. After completing otolaryngology residency at UPMC, she went on to receive dual fellowship training in both pediatric otolaryngology and sleep medicine through UPMC and the University of Pennsylvania/CHOP. She is board-certified in Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine. With a clinical practice at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Mercy Hospital, Dr. Whelan specializes in the treatment of sleep disorders in pediatric and adult patients. She has a particular focus in surgical treatment options for sleep-disordered breathing including nasal, pharyngeal, and neurostimulation surgeries and enjoys caring for patients across the age spectrum.

Dr. Kaffenberger will join the Sleep Division in the Department of Otolaryngology. He completed his medical school and residency training in otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a sleep medicine fellow at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Kaffenberger will join Dr. Ryan Soose and Dr. Rachel Whalen at our sleep center at UPMC Mercy, and will also work in the sleep program at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center.